Hither, eanlings . . .
The upcoming season's play is always chosen after I know the size and makeup of the cast. Historically, new Knaves are at least 11 years old. All students are expected to have taken the Beginners' Theatre class I teach in the fall, known as The Wherefore Players. The Reading Shakespeare course offered in February/March is a deep dive into the play chosen for The Knaves Iambic to produce for the spring. The 5-session class is designed for both the aspiring actor and the student who has no interest in acting but would enjoy studying a play with a group.
Also, attendance at the new season info meeting (5:30 pm, Oct 30) will let me know who intends to audition. I strive to know the venue we'll be renting and the performance dates so you can know if you're free to commit to the troupe. I'll introduce the program, describe any changes to how the program will be run this season, outline the responsibilities for the students and the families, and answer any questions.
Shakespeare's works are particularly rich and challenging material which is why we do them, but they're not for everyone. It's important for you become familiar with Shakespeare's style BEFORE joining the team.
One of my highest values has been that everyone gets to participate, so I'll continue to creatively find places for everyone who'll be an asset to the group. Students will be encouraged to understudy a part besides their own principal part. (An understudy is an actor who learns the lines and blocking of a role and is fully prepared to perform in the event of an emergency. Understudies also fill in at rehearsals when a cast member is out sick or traveling.) Ideally, every role will be understudied by someone else in the cast. Everyone gains extra experience, and we can confidently plan for performances knowing all the parts will be covered. Some years we find time for an in-house performance by the understudies a couple of weeks before dress rehearsals.
For the audition at 3:00pm on the first Thursday in December, students must
1 - come prepared with a memorized and practiced joke or three that has a beginning, a middle and a punchline (NO knock knock jokes). I'm looking for confidence, good diction, vocal variety, and stage presence.
2 - come prepared with a student audition form neatly filled out BY HAND. These forms will be available at the info meeting, 5:30pm on Oct 30.
3 - come prepared having memorized 16 lines of Puck's speech from the ending of A Midsummer Night's Dream, beginning with "If we shadows have offended" through "And Robin shall restore amends."
***Returning Knaves*** prep a 1-minute age-appropriate non-Shakespeare monologue from a play. I'm happy to help you select and prepare something if you just ask.